Damion Mitchell, Power 106 News Coordinator
CASTRIES, St. Lucia:
THE GOVERNMENT of St. Lucia has approached the United Kingdom to provide seven former British police officers to assist in the fight against crime.
Governor-General Dame Pearlette Louisy made the announcement while delivering the Throne Speech during the opening of St. Lucia's Parliament yesterday.
According to Dame Louisy, the former British officers, whom she described as "highly experienced," will initially be contracted for two years.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
"These officers will be essential elements to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the force," she said. She noted that they would assist in several areas, including intelligence gathering, management systems, training and police reform, including an anti-corruption programme.
The Governor-General also said new positions would be created within the Royal St. Lucian Police Force to accommodate the former British cops.
So far, two other regional countries, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, have enlisted the assistance of British law enforcement officers to fight crime.
There has been increasing concern in St. Lucia over the upsurge in violent crimes.
Only recently, an archbishop was attacked by a knifeman on the compound of his cathedral. However, he survived the attempted murder by a man reported to be in his 20s.
